Yes We Cans!

So I was driving yesterday morning (mostly ‘cause I felt so guilty that I didn’t even have a dollar to put in the basket at church that I didn’t go) and I was thinking about the photos of the Obama rally in St. Louis with 100,000 people. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, but not quite because it had been talked about at the DGAAN meeting, but not that much, so still pretty much out of nowhere, that the Obama campaign should ask people to bring donations of food to their rallies to donate to local food pantries. That St. Louis rally could have brought in almost a quarter of a million cans of food!

I’m not sure where this idea came from, because in fact, it id not feel like it was mine. I ruminated over it all day, but it still felt like it was plucked from thin air and plopped in my head. So while I would normally then just drop it, I instead emailed the Obama campaign and told them my idea. I’m not sure if anything will come of it, but if they all of a sudden start collecting food at their rallies, I’ll know that it was a pretty special idea.

I hope it happens!

Today's Election Advent Calendar Message:

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. "
- Abraham Lincoln

Autumn Reprieve

After yesterday’s angst, today brought a modicum of relief as the need to immediately pack up shop has receded ever so slightly. The floor seems to be littered with eggshells, but at least it is not moving boxes (I think).

Providing a welcome distraction (as well as a couple of hours away from work) was two great lectures that were part of a conference called The Language of Nature. The first was “A Natural History of the Chicago Region” by Joel Greenberg – an author and naturalist, his discussion focused primarily on the history of prairies in the Illinois area, and “Restoring Kinship with the Land” by John Price – a Professor of English at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, he offered a very engaging talk about finding ways to connect emotionally and physically with one’s own landscape. The second talk was “The Nature of Story” by Donna Seaman. A literary critic and editor for Booklist, she spoke about the influence of the natural world on fiction and non-fiction writers.

Both excellent presentations that made the world feel a little wider on a day when it was feeling pretty small.

A second welcome distraction was today’s weather. In a word, GLORIOUS! Trees seemed to turn overnight and a warm breeze sent leaves dancing to the ground. Following are pictures from the KlineCreek Farm, which looked just too pretty not to stop for at least a couple of minutes.





















Today's Election Advent Calendar Message:

"Voting is one of the few things where boycotting in protest clearly makes the problem worse rather than better."
- Jane Bowles

What Now?

Such sadness (yet all truth, I know) following yesterday's interaction - I hesitate to call it a conversation in that it was more a wandering through emotional minefields with the hopes of inducing the least possible carnage...

I feel like we are living in the middle of the quote by Anaïs Nin: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom”

Things are pretty painful.

Today's Election Advent Calendar Message:

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- Benjamin Franklin

(If I stay, am I giving up my own essential liberty to purchase safety?? Will everything now seem like a prophetic sign?)

Found Art

Many, many thanks to the wonderful individual(s) responsible for these beautiful mini environmental art installations found this morning on the Geneva Spur of the Prairie Path in Winfield. I LOVE that someone would take the time to do this!!!

Today's Election Advent Calendar Message:

"It may be necessary temporarily to accept a lesser evil, but one must never label a necessary evil as good. "
- Margaret Mead

Muddling Through

A dreary day, of which the highpoint has been my walk with Dougal. Bad political karma all around, a debate I don't think I can stomach (will watch Charlie Rose for spin though - keeping my fingers crossed for Doris Kearns Goodwin!!), rain and just general malaise...

Today's Election Advent Calendar Message:


"The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously."
- Hubert H. Humphrey

Helping the Digestion

Because I can become naturally politically combative (not necessarily partisan, but more often railing against the lemming-like tendencies of the populous to decry profusely and/or wax poetically about individuals and issues of which they possess neither the inclination to understand nor the ability to articulate that have become “all the rage”) I generally do not engage in full-contact political discourse with my family. This is mainly due to the fact that we all never FULLLY disclose our political leanings and the desire to respect each other’s opinions far out-weighs the need to drive home a point, no matter how passionately it is held.

That being said, it was a sheer delight to sit around the table this weekend and hear a collective cry (OK, mine was more of a wail) of concern regarding the scariest possible outcome of the November elections. Even if we differ on baseball teams (mine not having fallen just yet!) it is comforting to know that those from whence I came share my belief that the unique values that formed this country should not be sold to the highest bidder or distilled to the lowest common denominator…

Today's Election Advent Calendar Message:

"The only title in our democracy superior to that of President is the title of citizen."
- James Madison

Peace Fest 2008


In just a little over 30 days, as we come dangerously close to letting the uninformed and/or easily swayed hijack, once again, the constitutional right (not to mention the Constitution itself) of American individuals to a government by the people and FOR THE PEOPLE, it leaves one just slightly more optimistic about our future to see a little group of people so committed to the idea of Peace that not only do they choose to celebrate it but they ask their government to celebrate it too!

Following is the Mayoral Proclamation declaring September 21st, 2008, West Chicago Peace Day.

West Chicago City Council Proclamation #487:
Proclaimed, September 2, 2008

Declared an official holiday by the United Nations in 1981, Peace Day is celebrated worldwide in over 200 countries. The historic U.N. Peace Day resolution calls for an international day of global ceasefire and nonviolence. All nations and individuals are invited on this day to cease all hostilities and join in a worldwide celebration, reflection, and one minute of silence for inner and world peace. The hope is that more and more people will be inspired to carry the commitment of nonviolence forward into the days beyond, until everyday is a celebration of peace.


Recognizing that in 1981, the United Nations officially declared the twenty-first day of September of every year to be Peace Day, calling for an international day of global ceasefire and nonviolence;

WHEREAS, citizens of West Chicago, Illinois understand that peace is an active process that embraces the deepest hopes of all people, and remains humanity's guiding inspiration; and

WHEREAS, we recognize that an enduring peace is our most important national interest, as well as a core value; and

WHEREAS, peaceful unity, understanding and cooperation among individuals and nations is essential to the freedom of all; and

WHEREAS, we share the vision of a day when humanity knows only peace among all nations and in every heart; and

WHEREAS, we are proud to join the rest of our nation and people from around the world in avowing our deepest commitment to peace in our homes, our communities and across the globe;

NOW, THEREFORE, I Michael B. Kwasman, Mayor of the City of West Chicago, do hereby proclaim September 21, 2008 as

WEST CHICAGO PEACE DAY

Photos from Peace Fest 2008